TYVM I'd like to share something...

Melly

Melly

Honorable Pirate
Long ago, I ran an online community (ok, it was a pirate themed estate in second life, don't laugh at me). It rocked, we had land combat as well as some pretty awesome ship battles. It was a labor of love and a lot of people had a lot of fun there. I say labor of love because not only did I not make money, it actually cost me money to run it. That was ok, I had the money to do it and it was well worth the fun.

Over the years though, it started to wear on me. People loved to play there, but weren't so interested in helping keep the place running. Everyone, though, had plenty of complaints. That comes with the territory and I shouldered it pretty well with the two other people who were my partners. They were my lifesavers and our bond was and still is strong.

But everyone has a breaking point. After 5ish years, the incessant complaints started to get to me. The amount of time and work were harsh, but the thankless nature of it was what did it for me. I have seen it time and time again, anytime someone creates any kind of space for others to enjoy along with the good comes the bad. They get absolutely crapped on and eventually burn out.

Now I am not talking about occasional frustration, or constructive criticism/ideas. Heck we all go through that. I am talking about the attitude of takers. They are provided something for free and they start taking on the attitude of disgruntled high-paying customers who demand everything be perfect (and perfect in their way, never thinking that there are a hundred others who also want it their way).

When you devote your time, energy, form your real life schedule around the demands of the game, sometimes losing sleep/social activities/etc.... it's hard. But that's ok, hard isn't a bad thing! But when you put all that together with people who throw anger and abuse at you eventually you're gonna say "why am I doing this again?". And eventually you're gonna say "I'm done". Burnout is a thing. The day I said I was done was the biggest relief... but it was also the saddest day. To this day I miss the heck out of that place.

I'm sorry this is so long, and I don't mean this as some kind of threat as I speak only for myself and don't even know anyone on the TLOPO team. They may not even like this sort of thread. It's just a little reminder that people on that team are giving so much, and asking for absolutely nothing in return. Even if no one ever complains, burnout can still happen and this game could still go away someday. Please everyone when you get frustrated with the lag, the crashes, the time it's taking to do whatever - remember these are human beings taking time out of their lives to do something *for us*. Let's not make it even harder on them.


PS- and to the team, I cannot thank you enough for bringing my beloved potco back to life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!


(edited to reword some naughty words I had used in the original - sorry!)
 
Last edited:
Flight1700 said:
Psst remove the "bad" language from your post before the forum mods get here or risk your post being deleted.
Click to expand...
If I were to issue her a warning point, that would be a warning for speaking things frankly. And believe me mate, that's the best warning one could get. Sometimes it's hard to separate words from emotions because there are specific words that express you to an absolute extend at the time you write all these down. {not to say I endorse this, but it's the reality}

Melly I tip my hat off to you. It's really an honour for me to have you as a part of this community. Posts like these is what really makes TLOPO team move forward the difficulties.

See you on the Caribbean!
 
Melly said:
...Now I am not talking about occasional frustration, or constructive criticism/ideas. Heck we all go through that. I am talking about the attitude of takers. They are provided something for free and they start taking on the attitude of disgruntled high-paying customers who demand everything be perfect (and perfect in their way, never thinking that there are a hundred others who also want it their way).
Click to expand...
For myself, somehow I have gained a negative view towards human nature (online). Although I am trying to change, I am not exactly sure that full recovery is possible and so if what I say below does help drive your message further that would be my main goal in spending the time in contributing to this thread of yours. :)

Specific to POTCO, I just don't feel people understood what they ultimately had. It's like Disney gave the brethren the very freedom they so much desired (perhaps a little too much freedom). I guess what I am trying to say is without true and genuine appreciation towards POTCO as it was intended (and I'm speaking to the ex-POTCO 'hackers' here) it's a bit difficult for pirates of all backgrounds of game-play to be on the same level in so far as savoring every moment/experience POTCO did provide. I say this because with just one (qty. 1) person feeling unappreciated with what POTCO was, that is enough for others to begin to feel the same way in part because of the way human nature works and the power of influence (to where POTCO's flaws begin to take center-stage over POTCO's rewards). Now granted, well-intention pirates like @LEO had brought a lot of things to light here on the forums to where pirates were made aware of the obvious flaws POTCO had but even still the end result he sought was to mostly educate people and to ignite a spark to where the POTCO system could eventually be improved. In contrast, there was a player online connected even with the TTO community whom began to notice the same things and, after trying to contact Disney about his concerns, revolted entirely against the system by doing things to damage POTCO rather than improve it. (Long story short, if a person's intention towards 'appreciating' a thing truly matters...I hope everyone now can see the difference).

So really, TLOPO will experience it's own share of unappreciative/demanding folks because in essence this was the very atmosphere which was "allowed" to be harbored during POTCO's days all on account of pirates not accepting POTCO "as is."

*The point is, change can still happen but - in my opinion - it better begin soon before gamers from all backgrounds learn to EXPECT things to be/to work a certain way. ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My dad Toothless takes us along to volunteer with him in a food kitchen in a very large city not too far from us on weekends during the winter, when folks need a hot meal the most.
He explained the first time we went to watch our backs, even though we are behind a counter and there is security in the place, and also explained to us to forget everything we know or think we know about people while serving meals there.
Not only did no one show any appreciation for the food that was freely and lovingly served to them, which my dad helps pay for and prepare, as well as serve, but the vast majority of people complained, swore, threw stuff, broke things and behaved very poorly in general in the rectory of the church we were in.
And no one ever said thank you, ever.
At first I chalked it up to those folk being off kilter or wonky, due to their circumstances, mental illness, drug abuse, etc.
On the ride home Tooth told us to look for people in our daily lives who aren't like those we served food to and to appreciate them, cultivate them and forgive the rest, because they really have no clue.
Now I see people of all walks of life in a different light, realizing that many are exactly like those homeless folk in the kitchen and scant few others are worth knowing or spending time to get to know.
It was an eye opener to say the least, but sadly it is the human plight, where most folk have no clue, but those that do get it are worth knowing all the same.
So, as the old man likes to say, "Keep on keeping on!" Because we are who we are and nothing can change that.
Savor it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top